Australia VAD access faces significant barriers in aged care

Andrew Denton, founder of Go Gentle Australia, has raised concerns regarding significant barriers to accessing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Australia. Speaking to the National Press Club, Denton reported that only seven of the country’s 70 largest aged care providers offer residents both comprehensive information and full access to the service.

Denton highlighted instances where residents were reportedly forced to leave their homes or move off-site for VAD assessments, sometimes resulting in patients dying in unfamiliar environments. He also alleged that some institutions and doctors have engaged in coercion, forcing patients to choose between continuing the VAD process and receiving ongoing palliative care.

Furthermore, Denton argued that certain existing laws have become redundant and obstructive. He specifically called for the removal of a ban on telehealth services for VAD, noting that the restriction creates a ‘postcode lottery’ that disproportionately affects terminally ill individuals in rural and remote areas. While the Federal Labor Party has agreed to debate scrapping the telehealth ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has opposed changes to these laws.